Match-book protector.



C. CAMPUS.

MATCH BOOK PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28. I916.

Patented May 16, 1916.

CESARE CAMPUS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH-BOOK PRCTEGTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 28, 1916. Serial No. 80,844.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OESAREV CAMPUS, a subject of the King of Italy, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Match-Book Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

As is now generally known match books or strips of paper matches put up in booklet form have come into very common use. In these match books the wrapper and match strips are stapled or otherwise secured together with the cover extending over the heads of the matches and adapted to be tucked between the base of the match splints and that end of the cover which is secured to the match strips. As generally made the striking or frictlon surface is applied to that portion of the cover under which the free end thereof is tucked to be secured in place and in the use of these match books 'it oftentimes happens when carelessly striking a match the unused matches in the book will be ignited and serious burns may be thus inflicted on the user of the matches.

The object of my present invention is to provide a protector cover easily applied to a match book and so constructed that when the parts are released they automatically assume a normal position and in so doing close the flap portion of the cover of the match book and make it impossible in striking a match on the friction surface of the match book to simultaneously ignite the unused matches therein.

In carrying out my invention the protector cover may be made in various forms and in all instances in such a manner as not to interfere with the advertising matter which is commonly placed on the exterior of the cover members of these match books as now in use and as hereinafter described two pos- Fig. 6, is a perspective view of the back.

member of the protector cover shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 7, is a perspective view of the front member of this form of protector cover, and Figs. 8 and 9, are views similar respectively to views 6 and 7 showing another construction of this form of the protector cover.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, books of paper matches as hereinbefore indicated are now Patented May 16, 1916.

commonly constructed of strips of matches indicated at 10 and 11, and a suitable paper cover therefor, one end 12 thereof being turned over the bases of match strips and the parts secured in position by a staple 13 or otherwise. Along this end of the cover as indicated at 14, the striking or friction surface is commonly placed. The cover of the match book also includes a back member 15 and a flap member 16, the fore end of the latter being adapted to be tucked between the outermost match strip and the end of the cover to which the friction or striking surface is applied in order to normally maintain the flap in position with the match book closed. Also as hereinbefore stated in striking matches against this friction surface the user oftentimes does not first close the flap and when the flap is not closed there is always present the liability when a match is lighted of igniting the unused matches in the matchbook. To prevent this I employ a protector cover preferably comprising a back member 17 made of sheet metal or similar material and adapted at one end to be inserted between the innermost match strip and the adjacent portion of the back member 15 on the match book cover. The opposite end of this back member 17 is curved as indicated at 18 so as to partially extend over the heads of the matches in the match book. Together with this back memberl'? I employ a front member 19. One end of this front member 19 is also curved as indicated at 20 in a manner similar to the corresponding end of the back member 17 and at their extremities the curved ends of these members are rolled as indicated at 21 to receive a pin 22 in order that the members may be hinged or pivotally connected one to the other. At the opposite end the front member 19 is provided -with an overturned extremity 23 adapted to receive the free end of the flap member 16 of the match book cover which as is clearly indicated in Fig. 1 extends exteriorly over the entire protector cover with the exception of the outer surface of the overturned extremity 23. The partsof the protector cover may be normally maintained in a position to keep the flap member closed by any suitable means. In the drawing I have illustrated a spring 24 which for this purpose is suitably connected to the hinged With the parts thus in place it will be readily understood that in taking a match from the 7 match book it is necessary to spread the parts 'of the protector cover against the action of the spring 24 and immediately upon releasing the parts of the protector cover the spring forces the same into their normal positions and in so doing closes the match book. In this form of the invention, the protector cover is entirely within the cover of the match book and in no wise interfers with the advertising matter which may be placed on the outer surface thereof.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, the construction of the protector cover is somewhat similar to that hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but instead of being placed in position with the cover of the match book extending over the protector the protector is placed on the exterior of the match book cover. In .this form of the invention the back member preferably comprises a frame 25 having inturned edges 26 adapted to receive the edges of the back member of a match book cover and a round end portion 27 with the rolled extremity 28 forming part of the hinge. The front member of the protector cover in this form of the invention comprises a frame 29 round at one end and at the extremity of the same provided with rolled hinged portions 30, in order to be connected to the back member by a suitable pin 31. 32 indicates a spring which serves to normally maintain parts of the protector cover in closed position. In the use of this form of the invention the edges of the match book cover are passed beneath the inturned sides 26 of the back member and the friction or contact between the same holds the parts in position there being no definite connection between thefront member 29 and the flap of the match book cover. In this form of the invention the open frame members forming the cover do not interfere with the advertising placed on the exterior of the match book cover.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated another form of the invention in which the back member of the protector cover is also a frame but instead of being turned over toward the inside the edges 33 are turned over toward the outside so that the back member may be placed inside the match book cover in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 1, whereas the front member of the protector cover is overturned at its free end as indicatedat 34, Fig. 9, also in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 1. In this instance the front member is provided with sides indicated at 35 so that when closed the-heads of the matches are entirely incased. As will be understood the open frame construction not only effects a saving in material but also makes the protector lighter in weight.

I claim as my invention:

1. A match book protector cover comprising a back member adapted to be associated with the back of a match book cover, a member associated with the flap of the match book cover, and means for maintaining said members in position to normally keep the flap of the match book cover closed.

2. A match book protector cover comprising a back member adapted to be associated with the back of a match book cover, a member associated with the flap of the match book cover, means for connecting said members, and means for maintaining said members normally inposition to keep the flap of the match book cover closed.

3. A match book protector cover comprising a backmember adapted to be associated with the back of a match book cover, a member associated with the flap of the match book cover and hinged to the aforesaid member and a spring for normally maintaining said members in position to keep the flap of the match book cover closed.

4. A match book protector cover comprising a back member adapted to be associated with the back of a match book cover, a member pivotally connected to the aforesaid member and adapted toengage the free end of the flap of the match book cover, and

means for normally maintaining the said members in position to keep the flap of the match book cover closed. 5. A match book protector cover comprismg a back member adapted to engage, the back of a match book cover, a front member pivotally connected to the back member, and means for normally maintaining said members in position to keep the flap of the match. book cover closed.

6. A match book protector cover comprising aback member adapted to engage the back of a match book cover, a front member adapted to engage the free end of the flap of the match book cover and pivotally connected to the said back member, and

means for normally maintaining said front and back members in position to keep the flap of the match book cover closed.

7. A match book, protector cover comprisandback members to normally maintain the ing' a back member adapted to engage the same in position to keep the flap member of back of a match book cover, a front member the match book cover closed. 10

adapted to engage the free end of the flap Signed y me this 14th day of February, 4 5 of the match book cover and hinged to the 1916. Y

said back member, and a spring associated I I with the hinged portions of the said front CESECUS. 

